Where love meets style or how to create a tasteful but fun celebration for those you love.
It is my 25th year celebrating Valentines Day with my husband, baby daddy, business partner and best friend Dines. For years we have marked this occasion with style! I still remember our first Valentines Dinner as a married couple at the Bel Air Hotel. We donned our fanciest clothes (God I miss that Thierry Mugler dress I once fit into), and held hands the entire car ride to our destination. Two years ago we revisited the Hawaiian hotel where we honeymooned decades ago. This year, we are opting for a different kind of celebration, marking the day with friends who add love to our lives on a daily basis.
Elements of Endearment
As a young girl, I spent countless hours cutting Valentine’s Day Hearts out of red construction paper. Unfortunately, these days, with all I juggle, I don’t have that kind of time. So I ordered a grown-up version to scatter over my holiday buffet. Felt hearts are readily available on line – Amazon, Etsy, Temu. This is a more durable upgrade and feels like a more sophisticated option for my adult friends.
Roses are not the only fresh flower option ideal for Valentines Day. Peonies are my favorite flower for any occasion. Peony flowers, maybe believe, represent compassion. This is a perfect choice for my Valentines. While peonies may not be available depending on where you live, as early as February, they are easy to mail order.
Table runners are a great way to punch up a holiday theme – especially if you have a long table. I ordered this 108″ runner for our party. Its contemporary look will work well alongside the contemporary art in our home. It was a challenge to find a patterned runner that would work, so often Valentine’s Day textiles have a country cottage feel. If you can’t find the perfect pattern a solid color is always the solution. Coordinate your color palette with your flower and dish choices.
Using heart shaped items walks the fine line of tasteful/non-tasteful decor for an adult party. But items like these heart shaped marble cheese boards from Pottery Barn are subtle enough to work.
Connect with Comfort Foods
One of the ways my friendship circle shows love is through the our stomachs. My friend Sam often bakes bread and surprises me with a loaf. My friend James makes the best homemade bagels on the West Coast. Fran, the true chef among us, consistently shares the fruits of her culinary labor. I have decided that cooking comfort food may be the perfect choice for one of my holiday buffet offerings, and nothing feels more universal than grilled cheese sandwiches. Using home baked sourdough, and Wisconsin sharp cheddar cheese, my go-to-ingredients, I will use a cookie cutter to make heart shaped offerings (a little whimsy in food presentation for parties is delightful).
We will also serve a rosé wine – one of our favorite wine choices even in the winter!
The Gift of Dessert
Having a sweet bite after a meal is timeless tradition. I like to find after dinner treats that can be enjoyed at the party or taken home. A plate of gourmet chocolate bars is the perfect option. Find a bar that is beautiful and colorful to punctuate your holiday them. Present on a beautiful cutting board in pieces with gourmet cheeses and fruit. This very European idea, of serving cheese after the meal, is just as acceptable after dinner as it is an appetizer. Cheese and fruit pairs perfectly with chocolate.
Speaking of Gifts…
I am fortunate to have so many Valentines! Besides gourmet chocolate, I love gifting beautiful candles kitchen ware, sleepwear or a simple handwritten card. The best Valentine’s gifts are measured by the heart, not the cost.
OHI HOME STYLE 